Update: 12.20pm
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
GREATER Bendigo has officially logged its 1000th case of COVID-19.
The municipality has now had 1004 cases since the pandemic arrived on Australian shores in 2020.
Health workers found another five cases in the Greater Bendigo area on Tuesday, newly released Department of Health figures show.
There are currently 77 active cases.
Three of the newest cases are linked to Bendigo's 3550 postcode.
One case are linked to the regional 3551 postcode and another to Heathcote's 3523.
Elsewhere, the Campaspe Shire has recorded seven new cases, the Central Goldfields four and Macedon Ranges four. The Loddon and Gannawarra shires recorded no new cases.
There were four new cases in the Mount Alexander Shire, which includes Castlemaine.
The Castlemaine North PS cluster remains the largest in the state with 60 cases.
The Lockington Consolidated Primary School cluster is currently the fifth largest, with 41 cases.
There are 11 cases currently linked to the Victory Christian College cluster.
Earlier:
Victoria has recorded 1503 new coronavirus cases overnight with Greater Bendigo expected to record its 1000th case today.
Six people died.
In Greater Bendigo on Tuesday, there were seven new cases recorded for a total of 997 cases.
Across the state there are 13,888 active cases.
A COVID-19 cluster stemming from Castlemaine North Primary School is also growing with 14 cases found in the Mount Alexander Shire on Tuesday.
A total of 394 people are in Victorian hospitals because of the virus with 70 in intensive care and 41 on ventilators.
Health workers processed 92,262 tests and gave out 17,443 vaccination doses.
Bendigo Health infectious diseases physician Andrew Mahony encouraged residents to book in for their booster vaccination when eligible.
"We're sure there are a lot of people who think they can wait until after Christmas and New Years," he said.
"But at the same time, we have a developing situation in NSW and the numbers in Victoria aren't going down, waiting probably isn't the best way to go about it.
Yesterday, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said he believed as NSW abandoned mask mandates, Australians would take a common-sense approach to their COVID-safety during the festive period.
"As a country, we have got to get past the heavy hand of government, and we have got to treat Australians like adults," he said.
But health experts are calling for more clear instruction from federal and state governments saying "low cost" measures will be needed as long as COVID-19 variants can bypass vaccines.
Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can access our trusted content:
- Download our app on iOS and Android
- Bookmark bendigoadvertiser.com.au
- Make sure you are signed up for our breaking and regular headlines newsletters
- Follow us on Twitter @BgoAddy
- Follow us on Instagram @bendigoadvertiser
- Join us on Facebook
- Follow us on Google News